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I dont know Japanese and would appreciate some help in cultural and linguistic matters:

I have for some time been intrigued by the notion of plum blossom in Zen, e.g. in Dogen's Shobogenzo. John Steven's „Secret Teachings of Aikido" quotes O-Sensei as referring to plum blossom as well, I seem to remember, and it has some biographical relevance in my aikido training.

So here are my questions:

The Japanese word for plum seems to be "baike"? Which is the kanji? And the word and kanji for blossom?

Would it make sense in Japanese to name an aikido dojo „Plum Blossom Dojo", or would that have political, social or erotic double meanings one should be aware of, or even rather avoid? (I am thinking of the sakura kai or the like)

Does anybody know what the actual biological plum referred to in the Zen tradition is? Same as ours? Different Asian type? Anybody know its Latin name?

Thanks a lot for the help, and best wishes for your life and training in 2009